The Los Angeles Kings enter the 2026-27 season with a roster that has both established names and upward-trending talent, and The Athletic’s latest NHL player tiers reflect that mix.
In the outlet’s ranking of the league’s best players, the Kings were represented by four players across three tiers. At the top of the group was Artemi Panarin, who landed in Tier 3B among the “All-Stars.” Even at 34, Panarin is still viewed as an All-Star-caliber player heading into his first full season with Los Angeles.
Panarin’s impact showed up quickly in his first stretch with the Kings last regular season. In 26 games, he scored nine goals and finished with 27 points, helping lift an offense that needed the boost. That production is part of why he sits above the rest of the Kings in this list and why he’ll matter so much if Los Angeles wants to avoid another finish near the bottom of the league in goals.
Adrian Kempe was the next King to show up on the list, and he checked in at Tier 4B in the “star” group. Fresh off his new extension, Kempe has put together back-to-back seasons of 35 goals and 70 points, putting him in the same neighborhood as players such as the Carolina Hurricanes’ Andrei Svechnikov, Anaheim Ducks’ Cutter Gauthier, and Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat.
Quinton Byfield landed in Tier 4C, which also places him in the star category and inside The Athletic’s top 100. With Byfield projected to center a line with Panarin and Kempe, the Kings are expecting their No. 1 center to take on his biggest offensive workload yet. This season could be the one where he makes the jump into the All-Star conversation.
Brandt Clarke rounded out Los Angeles’ group, appearing in Tier 5C as a top-150 player at age 23. He was listed alongside defensemen Owen Power of the Buffalo Sabres and Bowen Byram of the Chicago Blackhawks. Clarke is expected to handle a larger defensive role, giving him a chance to make an impact at both ends.
The Kings may not have the kind of MVP-level star power that some of the Western Conference’s top contenders can roll out, but The Athletic’s rankings also leave room for movement. Panarin is already established, Kempe is in his prime, and Byfield and Clarke are still young enough to climb. If Los Angeles is going to break through in the postseason next spring, that kind of internal rise may be exactly what it needs.
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